April is a HUGE month for the environment. Much of it has to do with Earth Week coming up. I wanted to take some time out, on behalf of the Goddard Green Initiative, to share with you ways to celebrate this month-long celebration of the environment and our impact on it. I would appreciate it if you took a few moments to read through this information.
1. NYUNPLUGGED – Starting April 1 (that’s Wednesday!) Goddard will begin participating in a campus-wide competition to see which residence hall will conserve the MOST electricity. (Based proportionally on last year’s energy consumption for the month of April.) Last year we came in 3rd; this year we hope to WIN! You can track our progress here: http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/campus.projects/unplugged.html Oh yeah - There are prizes at stake! Here are a few simple, helpful tips for conserving electricity:
a. TAKE THE STAIRS (At least down!) – Encourage your friends to do it, too! Elevator use sucks up at least 5% of our daily electricity in the building.
b. USE YOUR WINDOWS – Instead of using AC/Heating units, try opening your windows or putting on layers and turning the heat down. These units are the biggest consumers of our electricity.
c. FILL YOUR FRIDGE – The more full a fridge, for some odd reason, the less electricity it consumes. So, if you don’t have food in it, fill it with books and clothes – anything to take up space!
d. TURN OFF UNUSED LIGHTS & APPLIANCES – Make sure you and your roomies shut off lights you aren’t using and/or aren’t necessary. Additionally, plug your TV, radio, microwave, etc into a power strip that you can easily turn off when you exit your room. Most of these objects draw electricity despite being turned “off”!!
e. SHORTER, COOLER SHOWERS – Our water is heated by electricity. Shorter and/or cooler showers uses less heat.
2. EARTH HOUR – On Sunday, millions of people across the globe turned off their lights in a show of support for the environment. Check out some of the photos here: http://www.earthhour.org/home/ But you don’t have to wait for someone to organize a global blackout! Practice smart electricity usage (see above, 1d.) or designate a time with your roommate an hour a week where you’d like to have the lights off!
3. NYU EARTH WEEK – Check out the many cool events NYU is hosting during Earth week: http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/get.involved/earth.week.html
4. HELP US LEARN ABOUT OUR WATER - The Wagner Water Project (WaWa) and H204U, two Green Grant projects supported by NYU’s Sustainability Task Force, are conducting a survey to investigate the water consumption habits and preferences of the NYU community. The information gathered will be used to improve the quality, accessibility, and portability of drinking water at NYU as well as inform future water education and outreach.
The survey includes 20- 35 questions about your water consumption habits and preferences and will take approximately 15- 28 minutes. Please complete by Monday, April 13, 2009. Here’s a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=7ye7gWioFJ14iipLTqYkQw_3d_3d
5. KEEP RECYCLING! We have made AMAZING progress this year as a recycling residence hall. Make sure you’re recycling all recyclables possible. Place all empty plastic bottles, cans, glass, and plastic bags and then all your dry, clean paper in their proper bins. Remember that STUDENT WORKERS are the ones who pick up the recycling, so leaving food and drink in the containers or leaking everywhere is not cool. Let’s do our part to help them do theirs!
6. RADISHES & RUBBISH – Check out an incredible series of eco-minded programs coming up this month here: http://radishesandrubbish.wordpress.com/calendar/ They are sponsored by an NYU Sustainability Task Force Green Grant. RSVP quickly for these free events, some of which include free travel!
7. SUPPORT GGI – The Goddard Green Initiative can use your help preparing for our own application for a green grant, as well as collecting ideas for end of the year events. Please come out to one of our meetings, held weekly @ 9pm in the Basement Lounge. You can also join the GGI facebook group by searching for “Goddard Green Initiative”.
8. MCNY – The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) is hosting an INCREDIBLE exhibit on PlaNYC, the plan for greening NYC. You should take time to go see it!
Thank you for your time and interest in these matters. Let’s win NYUnplugged and make a positive impact on the environment!!
Best,
Jarett
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